Baby Come Back(2)

I had thanked Jo Jo for the information. I needed to stay at the club to manage since Tristan had left. I had busied myself with helping where needed, relieving the bartenders for breaks; the same things that Tristan would have done had he not made a hasty exit.

Tristan had returned around midnight. He looked as if he had been tipping a few back. He had seen me immediately behind the bar on the main floor.

“What the hell are you doing here, Gina?”

“Gosh Tristan, last time I looked I was half owner. Someone had to be here after you stormed out.”

“I had my reasons,” he had snapped at me, coming behind the bar. “I want you to go home, Gina. We’ll talk about this later.”

“I’m not going home without you,” I had argued, “I already know the gist of it anyway. Ian called me earlier.”

That had caused Tristan to raise an eyebrow at me.

“You heard me. If you can’t figure out that Ian is just trying to cause problems between us because he wants us apart since his life is so miserable, then I don’t know what to tell you.”

“I don’t give a rat’s ass about Ian being miserable, Gina. What I do have an issue with is that you lied to me. I went through this shit with Tara; I won’t go through it again.”

“I haven’t lied to you, Tristan.”

“You have lied by omission; in my book that is the same thing.”

“Tristan now is not the time or place for this discussion.”

“You’re right,” he had snapped, taking my arm and guiding me out from behind the bar. “Jo Anna, can you close up here?”

Jo Anna had come hurrying over when she saw Tristan return. She had kept a short distance away, but clearly she had been concerned that Tristan and I could potentially draw the attention of the patrons.

I had driven us back to the apartment as it had been obvious Tristan had been drinking. We had argued in the car, and continued arguing at the apartment. Then Tristan had stormed out; Trey had followed closely behind. Tylar and I had both freaked. I knew Trey would not remain pissed at Tylar. Tristan was a different story. Tylar didn’t understand the difference in their temperaments.

Trey had a quicksilver temper; quick to anger, quick to calm. Tristan was more of a slow boil. It took a lot for him to get to the point of being furious; I was fairly certain he was slow at calming down once pushed over the threshold. He had been furious with me.

I buried my face in his pillow; it smelled like Tristan, my Tristan. My tears started flowing again. Why in the hell did shit like this happen to me? I had thought Ian and I were happy - until I saw him humping Shelly in the office at the club. His declaration of love for her had come to me shortly thereafter.

Now it was Tristan saying those horrible things to me; telling me that he couldn’t believe a single word I said. I had caused him to doubt my love for him. He had accused me of being duplicitous. It seemed like there was always someone nearby wanting to piss on my cornflakes.

I finally fell into a troubled sleep. It was a temporary escape at least from the harsh reality I would be forced to deal with now.





CHAPTER 2




The following morning I was awakened by the sound of Preston crying. I got up and went to her crib. She was standing up and held her arms up when she saw me.

“Hey there, sweetie pie. Where’s your mommy, huh? You want Aunt Gina to get you some breakfast?”

I changed her diaper then carried her out to the kitchen. I noticed that Trey had crashed on the couch. At least he had come back home. I wondered where Tristan had gone. My heart was heavy.

I got Preston settled into her high chair. I peeled a banana, slicing it into small pieces and tossing them into a bowl. She loved finger foods. I set the bowl in front of her; she immediately grabbed a slice of banana smashing it into her mouth. She was such a cutie. I got her sippy cup out and put some apple juice in it for her.

Tylar came into the kitchen looking like hell.

“Thanks for getting to her, Gina. I guess I fell into a deeper sleep than I expected.”

“No problem, Ty. I see the ‘Hot Nazi’ made it home,” I said, nodding towards the living room.

“Yeah, I saw him. Tristan?”

I shook my head ‘no.’

“Gina, he will be back-”

“Ty, don’t try to cheer me up. I should have told him. You were right; I was wrong. I can’t talk about this now. I have plans to make.”

“What kind of plans?”

“I have to find a place to live, for one thing.”

“Gina, please. Come stay with Trey and me at the house. We have plenty of room out there.”

“Thanks, but no thanks, Ty. I’ve imposed enough. Don’t worry. I’ve got some calls to make.”

I left the kitchen returning to my room. I wasn’t going to argue the matter with Tylar. I was determined not to be some pathetic leech. It was time that Trey and Tylar had their lives back to normal.

I showered, dressed and packed my clothes up. I phoned Jo Jo to see if I could crash at her apartment until I found a place of my own.

“You can stay as long as you like,” she told me.

Trey helped me load my suitcases into my car. There was an uncomfortable silence between us. I kissed Tylar and Preston; telling Tylar to call me once they were settled in the new house. She looked like she was getting ready to cry. That was Tylar; always emotional. She knew I would weep around for a day or two; then my survival instincts would kick in and I would be fine.